Ring Girl: 6/27/14
BY NICOLE KATO
Like many fighters, Haleiwa’s Dan Ige (who graduated from Kahuku High School) started training in a backyard dojo, and since then his amateur MMA record has improved to 8-2 (professional record stands at 1-0) while he holds two state championship titles. “At first I had no intentions on ever becoming an MMA champion of any sort,” he said. “I just wanted to know how to defend myself.” However, as time passed, Ige found himself falling in love with the sport. “(I) developed a vision and a burning desire to be great,” said Ige, who trains out of MMADevelopment and Sunset Beach Jiu-Jitsu. He comes from a grappling background, “but with the sport evolving so erratically I intend to be well-rounded in all aspects. I’ve always been into competitions, coming from a wrestling and jiu-jitsu background, so the transition was easy for me.” He credits much of his success to coaches Randy Lueder, Brandon Wolff, Rob Hesia, Chris West, Thomas Ako, Jeff Doner and Rob Fraser. “(They) help me become the fighter/man I am today, and (they’re) constantly helping me improve.” Ige is coming off a pro-debut win and hopes to be back in the cage this September. “I truly love the grind,” he said. “It’ll make or break you depending on how you embrace it.” To excel at the sport he loves, Ige trains six days a week in multiple disciplines: two to three days reserved for strength training and one hour of mobility work every night. “I love living a healthy lifestyle, eating organic/local foods, and finding ways to improve myself.” On a professional level, Ige attended Wartburg Cllege in Iowa (where he competed in wrestling) and studied nutrition and kinesiology … Congratulations to Logan Yoon of Kawano Boxing Club who won the 125-lbs. championship bout against Alejandro Campa in Oxnard, Calif. for the Adidas National Boxing Championships. Vincent Siordia of Boxfit808 also came home with a win after his bout with Ernesto Mercado … More news about boxing includes July 12 (coaches) and 13 (officials) at PearlSide Boxing Gym (2045 Lauwiliwili St. in Kapolei). Events will go over new rules, the 10-point scoring system, insurance, liability, responsibility, coaching/training methods, officiating methods and protocols. Call Coach Eiichi at 256-2885 to reserve your space for certifications. Clinics are free and run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but you must be registered with USA Boxing for 2014 at www.usaboxing.org before attending the clinics. (Officials’ certifications expire every two years, and USA Boxing membership expires annually on Dec. 31.)
Photo: Ryzone
